Illini can't afford to overlook struggling Wolverines

John Supinie

Monday

Feb 22, 2010 at 12:01 AMFeb 22, 2010 at 10:23 PM

The biggest surprise over the weekend might not have been Illinois playing Purdue close, Illini forward Mike Davis said. It was coach Bruce Weber's reaction. Following the closer-than-the-score-indicated loss by 10 points, Weber was pleased with his team's play against the fourth-ranked Boilermakers, instead of fuming after a loss to a rival and a protege. But now the trick for Illinois is matching that intensity without the fear factor of a highly ranked opponent.

The biggest surprise over the weekend might not have been Illinois playing Purdue close, Illini forward Mike Davis said. It was coach Bruce Weber's reaction.

Following the closer-than-the-score-indicated loss by 10 points, Weber was pleased with his team's play against the fourth-ranked Boilermakers, instead of fuming after a loss to a rival and a protege.

"We fought so hard, Coach wasn't mad at all,'' Davis said. "He was happy with the performance. When Coach says that after a loss, it helps our confidence.''

But now the trick for Illinois is matching that intensity without the fear factor of a highly ranked opponent. When Illinois begins a critical week with a game at Michigan on Tuesday, Illinois faces a team outside the top 15 in the national rankings for the first time in five games.

That doesn't mean it's not an important game. If the Illini want to get to 12 wins in the Big Ten Conference season – a number that would give them some security on Selection Sunday, Weber admitted – then beating Michigan on Tuesday and Minnesota in Assembly Hall on Saturday would appear to be musts.

"For us to go up there and play well and play hard, if we do that then we feel like we'll have a good chance to win,'' Davis said. "We've got to treat them like Purdue. We have to treat them like a top five team.''

Weber noticed a change in his team.

"Three of the last four games, we've played at a pretty good level,'' Weber said. "We have to see how the last two weeks go. I hope we've improved. Maybe they've figured it out, a little bit later than you anticipated, but they understand how to play and the level of intensity you have to play.

"We've learned as a staff about the team. We have to trigger hot buttons. We've competed with three of the top 15 teams in the country. We beat two of them. We've shown we can be that kind of team. Now can we do it over a consistent period over the last two weeks?”

There's no kidding anyone, though. Michigan has been the biggest disappointment in the Big Ten after reaching the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time in 11 years and advancing to the second round.

The Wolverines began the season ranked No. 15, then stumbled in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando in an appearance that set the tone for the season. Michigan won back-to-back road games against Minnesota and Iowa, then lost 55-51 to Penn State on Saturday in a momentum-killing performance.

"I thought they'd be in the top half of the league, maybe contending for the title,'' Davis said. "They have such good players, shooters who can play roles. They're having an off-and-on season.''

Preseason all-Big Ten guard Manny Harris and senior center DeShawn Sims were a good starting point, but coach John Beilein sounded like he was already looking toward next season.

"No matter what success we had last year, we're building a program,'' Beilein said. "It's not just 2010-11. We're talking about guys here for four years, three years, two years. It's about building a program.

"(The loss to Penn State) is a perfect example, isn't it? We just continue to work at it and know that it's great fertilizer for the future. It teaches our guys, it teaches me, it teaches everybody how to be a better team."

Illinois expects to face a trapping 1-3-1 zone defense that caused Illinois so much trouble against Ohio State. Of course, the Wolverines don't have a 6-foot-7 point guard at the top of the defense, like the Buckeyes' Evan Turner. Michigan's offense also relies on 3-point shooting, but the Wolverines rank last in the Big Ten at 30.4 percent.

NOTE: Illinois' home game against Wisconsin was set for March 7 with an 11 a.m. tipoff. The regular-season finale will be broadcast on ESPN.

Noteworthy: Illinois leads the series 83-71 but has lost its last four games in Ann Arbor. . . McCamey is averaging 37.5 minutes per game over the last 12 contests. . . Davis' 10 double-doubles this season rank him second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State's Turner (12). . . In Big Ten play, Tisdale leads the league with 56.7 percent shooting.

Key for Illini: Don't let Michigan warm up at the 3-point line.
Key for Wolverines: See if the 1-3-1 zone causes problems for the Illini, like it did against Ohio State.

Key quote: "We have to make sure we get good ball movement. We have to take advantage of our height and hold them accountable when they do play small. '' – Illinois coach Bruce Weber.